Telemetry ========= This section describes existing telemetry probes measuring interaction with search engines from the browser UI. Other search-related telemetry is recorded by Toolkit such as search service telemetry and telemetry related to fetching search suggestions. Toolkit search telemetry is relevant to Firefox as well as other consumers of Toolkit. See :doc:`/toolkit/search/Telemetry` in the Toolkit documentation for details. .. toctree:: :caption: Table of Contents telemetry Definitions ----------- * ``organic`` is a search that a user performs by visiting a search engine directly. * ``SAP`` (search access point) is a search that a user performs by visiting via one of Firefox's access points, using the associated partner codes. * ``sap-follow-on`` is a SAP search where the user has first accessed the site via a SAP, and then performed an additional search. * ``tagged`` refers to a page that is tagged with an associated partner code. It may or may not have originated via an SAP. * ``SERP`` refers to a search engine result page. Search probes relevant to front-end searches -------------------------------------------- The Address Bar is an integral part of search and has `additional telemetry of its own`_. BrowserSearchTelemetry.sys.mjs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This telemetry is handled by `BrowserSearchTelemetry.sys.mjs`_. SEARCH_COUNTS - SAP usage This histogram tracks search engines and Search Access Points. It is augmented by multiple SAPs, including the urlbar. It's a keyed histogram, the keys are strings made up of search engine names and SAP names, for example ``google.urlbar``. For each key, this records the count of searches made using that engine and SAP. SAP names can be: - ``alias`` This is when using an alias (like ``@google``) in the urlbar. Note there is often confusion between the terms alias and keyword, and they may be used inappropriately: aliases refer to search engines, while keywords refer to bookmarks. We expect no results for this SAP in Firefox 83+, since urlbar-searchmode replaces it. - ``abouthome`` - ``contextmenu`` - ``newtab`` - ``searchbar`` - ``system`` - ``urlbar`` Except aliases and search mode. - ``urlbar-handoff`` Used when searching from about:newtab. - ``urlbar-searchmode`` Used when the Urlbar is in search mode. - ``webextension`` browser.engagement.navigation.* These keyed scalars track search through different SAPs, for example the urlbar is tracked by ``browser.engagement.navigation.urlbar``. It counts loads triggered in a subsession from the specified SAP, broken down by the originating action. Possible SAPs are: - ``urlbar`` Except search mode. - ``urlbar_handoff`` Used when searching from about:newtab. - ``urlbar_persisted`` When `browser.urlbar.showSearchTerms.enabled` is `true`, and the search bar is disabled, and a user conducts a search with their default search engine, the terms used for the search will persist in the urlbar. When a user does a search with the default search engine from the urlbar, and then from the context of the SERP, does another search using the urlbar with their default search engine, this SAP will be used. - ``urlbar_searchmode`` Used when the Urlbar is in search mode. - ``searchbar`` - ``about_home`` - ``about_newtab`` - ``contextmenu`` - ``webextension`` - ``system`` Indicates a search from the command line. Recorded actions may be: - ``search`` Used for any search from ``contextmenu``, ``system`` and ``webextension``. - ``search_alias`` For ``urlbar``, indicates the user confirmed a search through an alias. - ``search_enter`` For ``about_home`` and ``about:newtab`` this counts any search. For the other SAPs it tracks typing and then pressing Enter. - ``search_formhistory`` For ``urlbar``, indicates the user picked a form history result. - ``search_oneoff`` For ``urlbar`` or ``searchbar``, indicates the user confirmed a search using a one-off button. - ``search_suggestion`` For ``urlbar`` or ``searchbar``, indicates the user confirmed a search suggestion. navigation.search (OBSOLETE) This is a legacy and disabled event telemetry that is currently under discussion for removal or modernization. It can't be enabled through a pref. it's more or less equivalent to browser.engagement.navigation, but can also report the picked search engine. SearchSERPTelemetry.sys.mjs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This telemetry is handled by `SearchSERPTelemetry.sys.mjs and the associated parent/child actors`_. browser.search.content.* These keyed scalar track counts of SERP page loads. The key format is ``:[tagged|tagged-follow-on|organic]:[|other|none]``. These will eventually replace the SEARCH_COUNTS - SERP results. They are broken down by the originating SAP where known: - ``urlbar`` Except search mode. - ``urlbar_handoff`` Used when searching from about:newtab. - ``urlbar_persisted`` When `browser.urlbar.showSearchTerms.enabled` is `true`, and the search bar is disabled, and a user conducts a search with their default search engine, the terms used for the search will persist in the urlbar. When a user does a search with the default search engine from the urlbar, and then from the context of the SERP, does another search using the urlbar with their default search engine, this SAP will be used. - ``urlbar_searchmode`` Used when the Urlbar is in search mode. - ``searchbar`` - ``about_home`` - ``about_newtab`` - ``contextmenu`` - ``webextension`` - ``system`` Indicates a search from the command line. - ``tabhistory`` Indicates a search was counted as a result of the user loading it from the tab history. - ``reload`` Indicates a search was counted as a result of reloading the page. - ``unknown`` Indicates the origin was unknown. browser.search.withads.* These keyed scalar track counts of SERP pages with adverts displayed. The key format is ``:``. They are broken down by the originating SAP where known, the list of SAP is the same as for ``browser.search.content.*``. browser.search.adclicks.* This is the same as ```browser.search.withads.*`` but tracks counts for them clicks of adverts on SERP pages. .. _additional telemetry of its own: /browser/urlbar/telemetry.html .. _SearchSERPTelemetry.sys.mjs and the associated parent/child actors: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/search?q=&path=SearchSERPTelemetry*.sys.mjs&case=false®exp=false .. _BrowserSearchTelemetry: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/browser/components/search/BrowserSearchTelemetry.sys.mjs